- Physiotherapist: work, traffic, heat all contribute to cause pain and injury which, if left untreated, can become chronic
People in the UAE, and the Gulf region in general, are particularly prone to shoulder pain and dysfunction due to the large amount of time spent sitting at work and in traffic, a fact that is exacerbated by the extreme heat experienced in places like Dubai during the summer months, where it is often too hot to spend time outdoors.
Therese Stjernberg, a sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapist at The Physio Centre in Dubai Healthcare City says, “Shoulder pain and dysfunction is a common problem amongst people here in the UAE and in the Gulf region as a whole. Because of the increased amount of sitting we do, both at work and in traffic, we have developed a ‘forward’ neck and shoulder posture. This means that our shoulders roll forward and we hunch more through our back.”
The muscles and joints of the shoulder allow it to move through a remarkable range of motion, making it one of the most mobile joints in the human body. It is thanks to your shoulder joint that you can hit a winning backhand in tennis, stretch to hang curtains or lift heavy items. The shoulder also helps to position your hand correctly so that you can carry out movements such as waving goodbye or operating the mouse on your computer.
Unfortunately, this tremendous range of motion also makes the shoulder extremely unstable and far more prone to injury than other joints. A shoulder injury can involve one or more of the shoulder’s complex arrangement of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments and the associated pain and lack of mobility can be severe enough to affect your ability to work and to enjoy the normal activities of daily life.
Therese, who recently completed a Masters in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy continues, “The shoulder is a very complex joint involving the upper arm, collar bone and shoulder blade. It likes to be kept in its natural posture; with the shoulder blade pulled down toward the centre of the back and the shoulder itself positioned centrally in the socket. When we drive or sit at our desks, our shoulders do the opposite of what they naturally like. Too much of this and the shoulder could flare up and become painful.”
With her professional focus on the manual treatment of sporting and orthopaedic conditions as well as pain management, Therese stresses that it is important to take good care of the shoulder complex to avoid ongoing discomfort and pain.
“Many different issues can arise in and around the shoulder joint,” Therese says, “and diagnosing the cause of shoulder pain involves assessing the posture, degree of movement and strength in the joint and possibly taking an x-ray and/or ultrasound.” Some of the conditions that commonly cause shoulder pain include muscle strains, tendinopathy, shoulder joint instability, ‘frozen’ shoulder, dislocation, collar or upper arm bone fractures, and crowding/ impingement.
“Shoulder pain should not be disregarded,” advises Therese. “Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent further injury and chronic shoulder problems from developing.”
The Physio Centre provides expert physiotherapy services for people at all levels of physical activity, from elite and amateur athletes to office workers. We provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, enabling all to return to their desired activity with optimal performance in as short a time as possible.
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